South Africa’s ruling party ordered Jacob Zuma on Tuesday to step down as head of state after marathon talks over the fate of a leader whose scandal-plagued years in power darkened and divided Nelson Mandela's post-apartheid ‘Rainbow Nation’. Leading members of the African National Congress now want new party leader Cyril Ramaphosa to replace Zuma as president, ANC Secretary General Ace Magashule told a news conference. But the party's national executive was split on precisely when Zuma should go, Magashule added, leaving the president’s immediate fate still hanging in the balance. Magashule said he had met Zuma personally to pass on the decision. “We haven't given him any deadline to respond,” he said. “The organisation expects him to go.” There was no word from Zumaor his spokesman, but Magashule said the president had promised to respond to the order by Wednesday. Zuma had asked the party to give him a notice period of three to six months but that had been rejected, Magashule said. “Timelines? No. The NEC believes that this is an urgent matter so it should be treated with urgency,” he said. Zuma has been living on borrowed time since Ramaphosa, once tipped as Mandela’s pick to take over the reins, was elected as head of the 106-year-old ANC in December. Ramaphosa narrowly defeated Zuma's ex-wife and preferred successor, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, in the leadership vote. Domestic media said the 75-year-old Zuma might yet defy the party, and face the indignity of being unseated in Parliament.

Multiple scenariosIF ZUMA RESIGNS
The ANC will call a special sitting of parliament to formalise Zuma's resignation. Lawmakers are then expected to elect Ramaphosa as next president.

IF ZUMA REFUSES TO GO
He will face a no-confidence vote in Parliament (he has survived many). An Opposition- backed motion of no confidence has been scheduled for February 22, but may be moved up this week. It will need over 50 percent of votes in the 400-seat National Assembly. The Opposition, with about 40 percent seats, almost certainly will vote against him. It is not clear how many ANC members will.

WHY HE IS BEING OUSTED
Since becoming president in 2009, Zuma has been dogged by scandal. He is fighting the reinstatement of 783 counts of corruption over a government arms deal (now valued at $2.5 billion) struck in 1990s, when he was deputy president.

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